Judge with 'no self-control' fired over punch-up with defence lawyer

A US judge has lost his job over a bizarre incident after he threatened a defence lawyer before challenging him to step outside, where the two men proceeded to punch on.

Describing John C Murphy's behaviour as "appalling", the Florida Supreme Court overruled an earlier penalty by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission and deemed the disgraced judge not fit to serve.

Originally, the Qualifications Commission had recommended that Murphy cop a four-month suspension, a $70,000 fine, a public reprimand, and participate in a mental health program over the 2014 incident, which has since become infamous.

But that wasn't enough for the Supreme Court, which slammed Murphy, a veteran who allegedly suffers from PTSD.

"Notwithstanding his prior judicial performance, Judge Murphy's total lack of self-control became a national spectacle — an embarrassment not only to the judge himself but also to Florida's judicial system," the court found.

"Given the clear erosion of public confidence in the judiciary caused by his misconduct, removal is an appropriate sanction."